The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-02-18

'NOu III you Will trust 10 me. NOu III
you are sure Of that you honestly love
me. Speak to me, Millicentl Why do
you turn your head away You do love
mes'
At this she lets her gaze return to his
81 wish had never seen you," she
says with trembling lips.
"That is hard speech, my darling"
at is true, though. II ! had never
seen you, might have been willing TO
conclude this contract with Grant, II I
had never seen you, could never
have'--
"Go on"
"Loved youw
She bows her head upon her hands and
bursts into fresh tears
Mr.. Massareene draws her head down
upon his shoulder.
"Don't cry like that, Millicent," II" says
he. at will all come right In the end.
Something tells me So" Something tells
him quite the reverse; but he would not
be the true lover he is if he could not
strain n point to please his beloved.
"What we have got to do now is to think
what is the first, best step to be taken"
1.-THE first, best step will mean ruin
There is a touch of impatience in her
tone. Although she loves him, II is
ttih iOl hcl W BlNt up tut btiuVu iohNco
and fishes of fashionable life.
at will not" retorts he stoutly; "it
will mean emancipation on-if you have the
pluck to 90 through with it."
"Ohl emancipation says she disdain-
fully, though she is glad Of his resolute
ness. "All you Irishmen are mad about
freedoml One would think you were a
land Lacquer the way you speak | won
der you are not afraid to love one of the
hated Sassenachs."
~ am not afraid of anything except
your strength of mind. You are mine
now, but will you be mine an hour
hencep'
"If were a man," says Miss Grey re-
flectively, 81 should not choose to fall in
love with woman upon whom / could
place no dependence"
"If / were woman" responds ho
promptly, ~ should know better than to
marry one man when l loved another"
"Well, but you are not woman"
says she triumphantly.
Neither are you u man." replies he.
"That squares our accounts. Sweet
heart" regarding her very gravely,
"tell me at least that you will think
seriously Of my proposal"
~ am always thinking of It," returns
oh9 why hit INV you
Grant"
"The gods forbid!" says he piously
81 am better man as stand, though no
doubt poorer one. Well, however the
wind blows, am happier fellow o-day
than l ever expected to be. Ihave heard
from your own lips that you love me-"
"Do not place too much confidence in
that"
"You will not deny the truth of it,
however,
"No. II is true. You are more to
me, Gerald, than any man I ever have
met-than any man ever shall meet"
Her eyes grow large and dim with
tears She holds out her hand to him.
Strengthened by such an assurance, I
will believe in nothing less than victory" "
replies he, in Il clear, resonant voice, his
face bright with u hope that at this mo-
mcnt has grown into certainty.
NIillicent, watching him, feels her heart
grow sad "Will not the weight of cir
cumstanccs, of custom, prove too strong
for him?
81 must 60 home" she says, starting a
little.
Good by then for the present, darl-
ing, whispers he proudly. He draws her
| to him and looks down anxiously into
| her face. A question seems lowering on
his lips. At last he gives it words.
| "Do-do you ever kiss him?' asks he in
| n jcrky, vehement way that speaks of
suppressed agony
"Never!'' returns she almost as vehe-
meutly.
She fushes crimson. Massareene's
arms tighten round her, and an express
sion of unspeakable relief alters his face.
| II cannot tell you how often | have
thought of that, how it has preyed upon
me-" he eXclaims eagerly. "And after
all, the torment endured had no foun-
dation.' He looks tenderly down upon
her. MY love, you seem more mine
now than everr' Then his tone changes,
and an accent of scorn unmitigated runs
through it. Evidently his thoughts are
wandering to some one absent. "What
sort of fellow was he at all'' says he,
with curl of his lips.
A faint smile breaks through the sad
ness of Millicent's face.
"Would you have had him different
| thenP she asks, with slight return OF
her usual gayety.
| Different! Do you know" says he
presently, "that / don't think dislike
him now half as much as l did five min
utes sgo'" Then pressing his cheek to
hers, and speaking in much lower tone,
and rather shyly, "Miuicent, will you be
kinder to me than you are to him"
"Have l not been kinder" asks she
family.
"But kinder-kinder still?"
She lifts her face to his!